Fanatics always seem to have the same scrubbed and staring look about them. They have the look of people who do not masturbate, but who think about it almost all the time.
This quote offers a provocative insight into the psyche of fervent believers or extremists. The imagery of a 'scrubbed and staring look' suggests a kind of forced composure, a superficial cleanliness that masks deeper doubt or obsession. When the author points out that such individuals don’t masturbate but think about it constantly, he might be symbolizing a suppressed desire or instinct, which manifests as fanaticism in other areas of life. The...